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Faa G, Messana I, Coni P, Piras M, Pichiri G, Piludu M, Iavarone F, Desiderio C, Vento G, Tirone C, Manconi B, Olianas A, Contini C, Cabras T, Castagnola M. Thymosin β 4 and β 10 Expression in Human Organs during Development: A Review. Cells 2024; 13:1115. [PMID: 38994967 PMCID: PMC11240739 DOI: 10.3390/cells13131115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the results of a series of studies performed by our group with the aim to define the expression levels of thymosin β4 and thymosin β10 over time, starting from fetal development to different ages after birth, in different human organs and tissues. The first section describes the proteomics investigations performed on whole saliva from preterm newborns and gingival crevicular fluid, which revealed to us the importance of these acidic peptides and their multiple functions. These findings inspired us to start an in-depth investigation mainly based on immunochemistry to establish the distribution of thymosin β4 and thymosin β10 in different organs from adults and fetuses at different ages (after autopsy), and therefore to obtain suggestions on the functions of β-thymosins in health and disease. The functions of β-thymosins emerging from these studies, for instance, those performed during carcinogenesis, add significant details that could help to resolve the nowadays so-called "β-thymosin enigma", i.e., the potential molecular role played by these two pleiotropic peptides during human development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavino Faa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università di Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (G.F.); (P.C.); (M.P.); (G.P.); (C.C.)
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Irene Messana
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta”, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 00168 Roma, Italy; (I.M.); (C.D.)
| | - Pierpaolo Coni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università di Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (G.F.); (P.C.); (M.P.); (G.P.); (C.C.)
| | - Monica Piras
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università di Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (G.F.); (P.C.); (M.P.); (G.P.); (C.C.)
| | - Giuseppina Pichiri
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università di Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (G.F.); (P.C.); (M.P.); (G.P.); (C.C.)
| | - Marco Piludu
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy;
| | - Federica Iavarone
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy;
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Claudia Desiderio
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta”, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 00168 Roma, Italy; (I.M.); (C.D.)
| | - Giovanni Vento
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Neonatologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy; (G.V.); (C.T.)
- Divisione di Neonatologia, Dipartimento per la Salute della Donna e del Bambino, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Chiara Tirone
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Neonatologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy; (G.V.); (C.T.)
| | - Barbara Manconi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Sezione Biomedica, Università di Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (B.M.); (A.O.); (T.C.)
| | - Alessandra Olianas
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Sezione Biomedica, Università di Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (B.M.); (A.O.); (T.C.)
| | - Cristina Contini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università di Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (G.F.); (P.C.); (M.P.); (G.P.); (C.C.)
| | - Tiziana Cabras
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Sezione Biomedica, Università di Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (B.M.); (A.O.); (T.C.)
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Laboratorio di Proteomica, Centro Europeo di Ricerca sul Cervello, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Roma, Italy
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Piludu M, Pichiri G, Coni P, Piras M, Congiu T, Faa G, Lachowicz JI. Cell starvation increases uptake of extracellular Thymosin β4 and its complexes with calcium. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 116:109743. [PMID: 36706591 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Cell metastasis is the main cause of cancer mortality. Inhibiting early events during cell metastasis and invasion could significantly improve cancer prognosis, but the initial mechanisms of cell transition and migration are barely known. Calcium regulates cell migration, whilst Thymosin β4 is a G-actin and iron binding peptide associated with tumor metastasis and ferroptosis. Under normal cell growth conditions, intracellular free calcium ions and Thymosin β4 concentrations are strictly regulated, and are not influenced by extracellular supplementation. However, cell starvation decreases intracellular Thymosin β4 and increases extracellular peptide uptake above the normal range. Unexpectedly, cell starvation significantly increases internalization of extracellular Ca2+/Thymosin β4 complexes. Elucidating the role of Ca2+/Thymosin β4 in the early events of metastasis will likely be important in the future to develop therapies targeting metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Piludu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Pichiri
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Coni
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Monica Piras
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Terenzio Congiu
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gavino Faa
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Piras M, Gerosa C, Congiu T, Cau F, Fanni D, Pichiri G, Coni P, Lachowicz JI, Schirru E, Congia M, Rossino R, Muntoni S, Jaremko M, Piludu M. Toward the renal vesicle: Ultrastructural investigation of the cap mesenchyme splitting process in the developing kidney. J Public Health Res 2022; 11:22799036221124076. [PMID: 36310827 PMCID: PMC9597041 DOI: 10.1177/22799036221124076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A complex sequence of morphogenetic events leads to the development of the adult mouse kidney. In the present study, we investigated the morphological events that characterize the early stages of the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition of cap mesenchymal cells, analyzing in depth the relationship between cap mesenchymal induction and ureteric bud (UB) branching. Design and methods Normal kidneys of newborn non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice were excised and prepared for light and electron microscopic examination. Results Nephrogenesis was evident in the outer portion of the renal cortex of all examined samples. This process was mainly due to the interaction of two primordial derivatives, the ureteric bud and the metanephric mesenchyme. Early renal developmental stages were initially characterized by the formation of a continuous layer of condensed mesenchymal cells around the tips of the ureteric buds. These caps of mesenchymal cells affected the epithelial cells of the underlying ureteric bud, possibly inducing their growth and branching. Conclusions The present study provides morphological evidence of the reciprocal induction between the ureteric bud and the metanephric mesenchyme showing that the ureteric buds convert mesenchyme to epithelium that in turn stimulates the growth and the branching of the ureteric bud.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Piras
- Department of Medical Sciences and
Public Health, AOU, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
| | - Clara Gerosa
- Department of Medical Sciences and
Public Health, AOU, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
| | - Terenzio Congiu
- Department of Medical Sciences and
Public Health, AOU, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy,Terenzio Congiu, Department of Medical
Sciences and Public Health, AOU, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale Cagliari,
Cagliari, Sardegna 09124, Italy.
| | - Flaviana Cau
- Department of Medical Sciences and
Public Health, AOU, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
| | - Daniela Fanni
- Department of Medical Sciences and
Public Health, AOU, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Pichiri
- Department of Medical Sciences and
Public Health, AOU, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Coni
- Department of Medical Sciences and
Public Health, AOU, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
| | - Joanna Izabela Lachowicz
- Department of Medical Sciences and
Public Health, AOU, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
| | - Enrico Schirru
- CeSaSASt. Centro Servizi di Ateneo per
gli Stabulari, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
| | - Mauro Congia
- Unit of Pediatric Gastroenterology,
Microcitemico Hospital, Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
| | - Rossano Rossino
- Department of Medical Sciences and
Public Health, AOU, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
| | - Sandro Muntoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences,
University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
| | - Mariusz Jaremko
- Biological and Environmental Sciences
& Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and
Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marco Piludu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences,
University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy,Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo
Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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Lachowicz JI, Pichiri G, Piludu M, Fais S, Orrù G, Congiu T, Piras M, Faa G, Fanni D, Dalla Torre G, Lopez X, Chandra K, Szczepski K, Jaremko L, Ghosh M, Emwas AH, Castagnola M, Jaremko M, Hannappel E, Coni P. Thymosin β4 Is an Endogenous Iron Chelator and Molecular Switcher of Ferroptosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:551. [PMID: 35008976 PMCID: PMC8745404 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) was extracted forty years agofrom calf thymus. Since then, it has been identified as a G-actin binding protein involved in blood clotting, tissue regeneration, angiogenesis, and anti-inflammatory processes. Tβ4 has also been implicated in tumor metastasis and neurodegeneration. However, the precise roles and mechanism(s) of action of Tβ4 in these processes remain largely unknown, with the binding of the G-actin protein being insufficient to explain these multi-actions. Here we identify for the first time the important role of Tβ4 mechanism in ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, which leads to neurodegeneration and somehow protects cancer cells against cell death. Specifically, we demonstrate four iron2+ and iron3+ binding regions along the peptide and show that the presence of Tβ4 in cell growing medium inhibits erastin and glutamate-induced ferroptosis in the macrophage cell line. Moreover, Tβ4 increases the expression of oxidative stress-related genes, namely BAX, hem oxygenase-1, heat shock protein 70 and thioredoxin reductase 1, which are downregulated during ferroptosis. We state the hypothesis that Tβ4 is an endogenous iron chelator and take part in iron homeostasis in the ferroptosis process. We discuss the literature data of parallel involvement of Tβ4 and ferroptosis in different human pathologies, mainly cancer and neurodegeneration. Our findings confronted with literature data show that controlled Tβ4 release could command on/off switching of ferroptosis and may provide novel therapeutic opportunities in cancer and tissue degeneration pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna I. Lachowicz
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (J.I.L.); (T.C.); (M.P.); (G.F.); (D.F.); (P.C.)
| | - Giusi Pichiri
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (J.I.L.); (T.C.); (M.P.); (G.F.); (D.F.); (P.C.)
| | - Marco Piludu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Sara Fais
- Department of Surgical Science, OBL Oral Biotechnology Laboratory, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (S.F.); (G.O.)
| | - Germano Orrù
- Department of Surgical Science, OBL Oral Biotechnology Laboratory, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (S.F.); (G.O.)
| | - Terenzio Congiu
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (J.I.L.); (T.C.); (M.P.); (G.F.); (D.F.); (P.C.)
| | - Monica Piras
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (J.I.L.); (T.C.); (M.P.); (G.F.); (D.F.); (P.C.)
| | - Gavino Faa
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (J.I.L.); (T.C.); (M.P.); (G.F.); (D.F.); (P.C.)
| | - Daniela Fanni
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (J.I.L.); (T.C.); (M.P.); (G.F.); (D.F.); (P.C.)
| | - Gabriele Dalla Torre
- Kimika Fakultatea, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea UPV/EHU, Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), P.K. 1072 Donostia Euskadi, 20080 San Sebastian, Spain; (G.D.T.); (X.L.)
| | - Xabier Lopez
- Kimika Fakultatea, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea UPV/EHU, Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), P.K. 1072 Donostia Euskadi, 20080 San Sebastian, Spain; (G.D.T.); (X.L.)
| | - Kousik Chandra
- Smart-Health Initiative (SHI) and Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.C.); (K.S.); (L.J.); (M.G.)
| | - Kacper Szczepski
- Smart-Health Initiative (SHI) and Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.C.); (K.S.); (L.J.); (M.G.)
| | - Lukasz Jaremko
- Smart-Health Initiative (SHI) and Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.C.); (K.S.); (L.J.); (M.G.)
| | - Mitra Ghosh
- Smart-Health Initiative (SHI) and Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.C.); (K.S.); (L.J.); (M.G.)
| | - Abdul-Hamid Emwas
- Core Labs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Institute of Chemistry of Molecular Recognition, National Research Council (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche), 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Laboratory of Proteomics and Metabolomics, IRCCS, Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariusz Jaremko
- Smart-Health Initiative (SHI) and Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.C.); (K.S.); (L.J.); (M.G.)
| | - Ewald Hannappel
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Pierpaolo Coni
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (J.I.L.); (T.C.); (M.P.); (G.F.); (D.F.); (P.C.)
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Coni P, Piras M, Mateddu A, Piludu M, Orru G, Scano A, Cabras T, Piras V, Lachowicz JI, Jaremko M, Faa G, Castagnola M, Pichiri G. Thymosin β4 cytoplasmic/nuclear translocation as a new marker of cellular stress. A Caco2 case study. RSC Adv 2020; 10:12680-12688. [PMID: 35497634 PMCID: PMC9051466 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra10365a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers of cell stress are important for proper diagnosis, and in studies of how cells respond to drug treatment. Biomarkers that respond early to pharmacological treatment could improve therapy by tailoring the treatment to the needs of the patient. Thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) plays a significant role in many aspects of cellular metabolism because of its actin-sequestering properties. Other physiological functions of Tβ4 have been also reported. Among these, Tβ4 may play a crucial role during cellular stress. We addressed the relevance of Tβ4 in cellular stress conditions by using different treatments (serum starvation, DMSO, and butyrate administration) in a colon adenocarcinoma cell line (CaCo2), a cell line frequently used for in vitro experimental studies of Tβ4. In this study, different stress stimuli were analyzed and the obtained results were compared using immunocytochemistry, and molecular and biochemical methods. Taken together, the data clearly indicate that the Tβ4 peptide is involved in adaptive and defensive cellular mechanisms, and that different stress inducers lead to a similar Tβ4 cytoplasmic/nuclear translocation. The translocation of Tβ4 between the cytoplasm and the nucleus of the cell seems characteristic of a possible molecular response to cellular stress exerted by this peptide. Biomarkers of cell stress are important for proper diagnosis, and in studies of how cells respond to drug treatment.![]()
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Lachowicz JI, Jaremko M, Jaremko L, Pichiri G, Coni P, Piludu M. Metal coordination of thymosin β4: Chemistry and possible implications. Coord Chem Rev 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Renga G, Oikonomou V, Stincardini C, Pariano M, Borghi M, Costantini C, Bartoli A, Garaci E, Goldstein AL, Romani L. Thymosin β4 limits inflammation through autophagy. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2019; 18:171-175. [PMID: 30063848 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1473854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a thymic hormone with multiple and different intracellular and extracellular activities affecting wound healing, inflammation, fibrosis and tissue regeneration. As the failure to resolve inflammation leads to uncontrolled inflammatory pathology which underlies many chronic diseases, the endogenous pathway through which Tβ4 may promote inflammation resolution becomes of great interest. In this review, we discuss data highlighting the efficacy of Tβ4 in resolving inflammation by restoring autophagy. AREAS COVERED The authors provide an overview of the Tβ4's anti-inflammatory properties in several pathologies and provide preliminary evidence on the ability of Tβ4 to resolve inflammation via the promotion of non-canonical autophagy associated with the activation of the DAP kinase anti-inflammatory function. EXPERT OPINION Based on its multitasking activity in various animal studies, including tissue repair and prevention of chronic inflammation, Tβ4 may represent a potential, novel treatment for inflammatory diseases associated with defective autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Renga
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Vasilis Oikonomou
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Claudia Stincardini
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Marilena Pariano
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Monica Borghi
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Claudio Costantini
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Andrea Bartoli
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Enrico Garaci
- b University San Raffaele and IRCCS San Raffaele , Rome , Italy
| | - Allan L Goldstein
- c Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine , the George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences , Washington , DC , USA
| | - Luigina Romani
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
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NAGAYAMA K. Biomechanical analysis of the mechanical environment of the cell nucleus in serum starvation-induced vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1299/jbse.19-00364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kazuaki NAGAYAMA
- Micro-Nano Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Ibaraki University
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Dubé KN, Smart N. Thymosin β4 and the vasculature: multiple roles in development, repair and protection against disease. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2018; 18:131-139. [DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1459558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Karina N. Dubé
- BHF Centre of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicola Smart
- BHF Centre of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Piludu M, Medda L, Monduzzi M, Salis A. Gold Nanoparticles: A Powerful Tool to Visualize Proteins on Ordered Mesoporous Silica and for the Realization of Theranostic Nanobioconjugates. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E1991. [PMID: 29986530 PMCID: PMC6073571 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19071991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) is a very interesting nanostructured material for the design and engineering of new target and controlled drug-delivery systems. Particularly relevant is the interaction between OMS and proteins. Large pores (6–9 nm) micrometric particles can be used for the realization of a drug depot system where therapeutic proteins are adsorbed either inside the mesopores or on the external surface. Small pores (1–2 nm) mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), can be injected in the blood stream. In the latter case, therapeutic proteins are mainly adsorbed on the MSNs’ external surface. Whenever a protein-OMS conjugate is prepared, a diagnostic method to locate the protein either on the internal or the external silica surface is of utmost importance. To visualize the fine localization of proteins adsorbed in mesoporous silica micro- and nanoparticles, we have employed specific transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analytical strategies based on the use of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) conjugates. GNPs are gaining in popularity, representing a fundamental tool to design future applications of MSNs in nanomedicine by realizing theranostic nanobioconjugates. It may be pointed out that we are at the very beginning of a new age of the nanomaterial science: the “mesoporous golden age„.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Piludu
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA 09042, Italy.
| | - Luca Medda
- Department of Chemistry, CSGI, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, FI 50019, Italy.
| | - Maura Monduzzi
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, CSGI, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA 90042, Italy.
| | - Andrea Salis
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, CSGI, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA 90042, Italy.
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Abstract
Moonlighting proteins exhibit multiple activities in different cellular compartments, and their abnormal regulation could play an important role in many diseases. To date, many proteins have been identified with moonlighting activity, and more such proteins are being gradually identified. Among the proteins that possess moonlighting activity, several secreted proteins exhibit multiple activities in different cellular locations, such as the extracellular matrix, nucleus, and cytoplasm. While acute inflammation starts rapidly and generally disappears in a few days, chronic inflammation can last for months or years. This is generally because of the failure to eliminate the cause of inflammation, along with repeated exposure to the inflammatory agent. Chronic inflammation is now considered as an overwhelming burden to the general wellbeing of patients and noted as an underlying cause of several diseases. Moonlighting proteins can contribute to the process of chronic inflammation; therefore, it is imperative to overview some proteins that exhibit multiple functions in inflammatory diseases. In this review, we will focus on inflammation, particularly unravelling several well-known secreted proteins with multiple functions in different cellular locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo Heon Yoon
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Junsun Ryu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Center for Thyroid Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
| | - Seung Joon Baek
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
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El-Zayat SR, Sibaii H, Mahfouz NN, Sallam SF, Fahmy RF, Abd El-Shaheed A. Effect of vitamin A deficiency on thymosin-β4 and CD4 concentrations. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2018; 16:57-61. [PMID: 30647705 PMCID: PMC6296595 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Vitamins are evaluated for their role in immunity. Recently, vitamin A received a particular attention as a critical micronutrient for regulating immune system. Therefore, the present study aimed to search for new about vitamin A. Forty-eight Egyptian adults aged from 18 to 42 years old from both sexes were subjected to clinical examination and nutrition questionnaire and were screened for vitamin A by using ELISA method. Forty subjects were selected and subdivided into two groups. Group 1 with vitamin A at level >200 µg/dl consists of 10 healthy subjects. Group 2 with vitamin A deficiency at level <50 µg/dl consists of 30 subjects. Tβ4 and CD4 levels were also determined by a commercial ELISA kit. Results showed a significant decrease in serum levels of Tβ4 and CD4 in group 2 than group 1 at P < .003 and P < .019 respectively. Both of Tβ4 and CD4 had positive correlation with vitamin A level at P < .000 and P < .003 respectively as well as with each other at p < .000. We concluded that vitamin A deficiency may be influence the levels of Tβ4 and CD4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salwa Refat El-Zayat
- Medical Physiology Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hiba Sibaii
- Medical Physiology Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nermine N. Mahfouz
- Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sara F. Sallam
- Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Reham F. Fahmy
- Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Azza Abd El-Shaheed
- Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
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Abstract
Background: Several studies have shown that the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in the CACAN1C gene, rs1006737, is related to different mood disorder illnesses, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Current day molecular procedures for allele detection of this gene can be very expensive and time consuming. Hence, a sensitive and specific molecular procedure for detecting these mutations in a large number of subjects is desirable, especially for research groups who have no complex laboratory equipment. Objective: The possibility of using a Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) probe was evaluated by means of bioinformatic tools, designed for forecasting the molecular behavior of DNA probes used in the research field or for laboratory analysis methods. Method: In this study we used the DINAMelt Web Server to predict the Tms of FRET oligo in the presence of the A and/or G allele in rs1006737. The PCR primers were designed by using oligo 4 and oligo 6 primer analysis software, Results: The molecular probe described in this study detected a Tm difference of 5-6°C between alleles A and G in rs1006737, which also showed good discrimination for a heterozygous profile for this genomic region. Conclusion: Although in silico studies represent a relatively new avenue of inquiry, they have now started to be used to predict how a molecular probe interacts with its biological target, reducing the time and costs of molecular test tuning. The results of this study seem promising for further laboratory tests on allele detection in rs1006737 region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germano Orrù
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Molecular Biology Service (MBS), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,National Research Council of Italy, ISPA, Sassari, Italy
| | - Mauro Giovanni Carta
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessia Bramanti
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti, ISASI, Messina, Italy
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar Disorder (BD), along with depression and schizophrenia, is one of the most serious mental illnesses, and one of the top 20 causes of severe impairment in everyday life. Recent molecular studies, using both traditional approaches and new procedures such as Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS), have suggested that genetic factors could significantly contribute to the development of BD, with heritability estimates of up to 85%. However, it is assumed that BD is a multigenic and multifactorial illness with environmental factors that strongly contribute to disease development/progression, which means that progress in genetic knowledge of BD might be difficult to interpret in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to provide a synthetic description of the main SNPs variants identified/confirmed by recent extensive WGS analysis as well as by reconstruction in an in vitro mechanism or by amygdala activation protocol in vivo. METHOD Bibliographic data, genomic and protein Data Banks were consulted so as to carry out a cross genomic study for mutations, SNPs and chromosomal alterations described in these studies in BD patients. RESULTS Fifty-five different mutations have been described in 30 research papers by different genetic analyses including recent WGS analysis. Many of these studies have led to the discovery of the most probable susceptibility genes for BD, including ANK3, CACNA1C, NCAN, ODZ4, SYNE1, and TRANK1. Exploration has started the role of several of these mutations in BD pathophysiology using in vitro and animal models. CONCLUSION Although new genomic research technology in BD opens up new possibilities, the current results for common variants are still controversial because of four broad conditions: analytical validity, clinical validity, clinical utility and a reasonable cost for genetic analysis are not yet accessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germano Orrù
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Molecular Biology Service (MBS), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- National Research Council of Italy, ISPA, Sassari, Italy
- Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Germano Orrù Ph.D, via Ospedale 54, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; Tel: +39 070 609-2568; E-mail:
| | - Mauro Giovanni Carta
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Abstract
The molecular mechanisms of thymosin beta-4 (TB4) involved in regulating hepatic stellate cell (HSC) functions remain unclear. Therefore, we hypothesize that TB4 influences HSC activation through hedgehog (Hh) pathway. HSC functions declined in a TB4 siRNA-treated LX-2. TB4 suppression down-regulated both integrin linked kinase (ILK), an activator of smoothened, and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (pGSK-3B), an inactive form of GSK-3B degrading glioblastoma 2 (GLI2), followed by the decreased expression of both smoothened and GLI2. A TB4 CRISPR also blocked the activation of primary HSCs, with decreased expression of smoothened, GLI2 and ILK compared with cells transfected with nontargeting control CRISPR. Double immunostaining and an immunoprecipitation assay revealed that TB4 interacted with either smoothened at the cytoplasm or GLI2 at the nucleus in LX-2. Smoothened suppression in primary HSCs using a Hh antagonist or adenovirus transduction decreased TB4 expression with the reduced activation of HSCs. Tb4-overexpressing transgenic mice treated with CCl4 were susceptible to the development hepatic fibrosis with higher levels of ILK, pGSK3b, and Hh activity, as compared with wild-type mice. These findings demonstrate that TB4 regulates HSC activation by influencing the activity of Smoothened and GLI2, suggesting TB4 as a novel therapeutic target in liver disease.
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Thymosin β4 overexpression regulates neuron production and spatial distribution in the developing avian optic tectum. Histochem Cell Biol 2016; 147:555-564. [DOI: 10.1007/s00418-016-1529-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Sibaii H, El-Zayat SR, El-Shaheed AA, Mahfouz NN, Sallam SF, El Azma MH. The Hidden Function of Vitamin D. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2016; 4:591-595. [PMID: 28028396 PMCID: PMC5175504 DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2016.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM: There are no reports regarding the influence of vitamin D on thymosin ß4 and the cluster of differentiation CD4 levels which are important for maintaining a healthy immune system. Consequently, we aimed to explore this relationship through a study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 35 subjects, screened for 25-hydroxy vitamin D[25 (OH) D] using ELISA method and they were divided into two groups: Group 1 consists of 10 healthy subjects with sufficient vit. D level > 24.8 ng/ml. Group 2 consists of 25 subjects suffering, severely, from vitamin D deficiency at level < 11.325 ng/ml. Also, Thymosin ß4, CD4 and zinc levels were performed. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the two groups in the concentration levels of thymosin β4, as the group 1 has shown higher levels (P = 0.005). Whereas, CD4 and zinc levels didn’t show any significant difference between the two groups. At the same time, a significant positive correlation has been observed between vitamin D, thymosin β4, and CD4 at (r = 0.719; P = 0.001), and (r = 0.559, P = 0.001) respectively. CONCLUSION: We concluded that vitamin D may be an essential factor that influence or determine the level of thymosin β4. This study is the first that focused on demonstrating that sufficient level of vitamin D may have the ability to influence the thymic hormone thymosin β4 levels. Further studies on large scale of subjects are needed to explore the positive correlation we had found between vitamin D and thymosin β4 and CD4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiba Sibaii
- Medical Physiology Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Salwa Refat El-Zayat
- Medical Physiology Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Azza Abd El-Shaheed
- Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nermine N Mahfouz
- Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sara F Sallam
- Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Marwa H El Azma
- Medical Physiology Department, National Research Centre, Medical Division, 33 El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, POB:12311, Cairo, Egypt
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